‘Finish the job!’ Thousands of Israelis rally in support of Gaza offense

‘Finish the job!’ Thousands of Israelis rally in support of Gaza offense

B00Mer

#1Aug 14th, 2014

‘Finish the job!’ Thousands of Israelis rally in support of Gaza offense

Thousands of people in Tel Aviv rallied to show support for the IDF's military campaign in Gaza, urging the government forces to stop Hamas rocket attacks on Israel once and for all.

An estimated 10,000 Israelis gathered in Rabin Square for first major demonstration since Operation Protective Edge began on July 8, officially to protect Israeli civilians from the barrage of rockets launched from the militant organization on the Gaza strip.

"I have full confidence in the government and in the army, but at the same time I ask as mayor of Sderot that they put an end to this situation once and for all," AFP reports.

"Finish the job!" he said. "This is a universal principle. We want to live in peace," he added.

A girl holds a sign during a rally in Tel Aviv's Rabin Square, to show solidarity with residents of Israel's southern communities, who have been targeted by Palestinian rockets and mortar salvoes, August 14, 2014. (Reuters / Baz Ratner)

"Occupy Gaza now!" placards were seen in the crowd, as the IDF claims Hamas has launched more than 3,500 rockets since beginning of the Israeli campaign, killing three civilians.

Israel strikes targets in Gaza despite prolonged truce

"We all came here to send the message that rocket fire on the south is not only a problem for the south but a problem for the rest of the country," said Haim Yelin, head of the Eshkol regional council.

He thanked the military for launching the offensive.

"I hope they will transform the military victory into a political victory that will bring quiet to the whole country," he said.

To root-out Hamas' smuggling tunnels and stop rocket launches on Israel, the IDF has been assaulting Gaza from land, sea and air for over a month, leaving at least 1,962 Palestinians dead - most of them civilians, including women and children - and sacrificing the lives of 64 Israeli soldiers in battles with Hamas.